Gareyson Y. Neufville
The Government of Liberia, through its local authorities, has officially broken ground for the construction of a modern Medical Operating Theater at the Pleebo Health Center in Pleebo City, Maryland County.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Monday, brought together authorities of the Pleebo Health Center, representatives of the Maryland County Health Team, Pleebo City officials, representatives from the office of Maryland County District #2 Representative, as well as traditional, religious, and community leaders.
The project, which is fully funded by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health, is being implemented by Sherue Construction Company, a Liberian-owned firm.
Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager of Sherue Construction Company, Engineer Rufus K. Belleh, disclosed that the project is expected to be completed within four months. He explained that the facility will be a concrete slab building without zinc roofing, designed to allow for future vertical expansion.
Engineer Belleh assured stakeholders that the operating theater will meet high construction standards and will be among the quality projects executed by his firm.
For his part, the Medical Director of the Pleebo Health Center, Dr. Prince F. Foko, said the completion of the operating theater will significantly reduce the burden on the J.J. Dossen Referral Hospital in Harper City by minimizing the frequent transfer of patients.
Dr. Foko explained that the facility will enable doctors to carry out surgical procedures under anesthesia, including cesarean sections for pregnant women who are unable to deliver normally due to medical complications, hernia removal surgeries, and other minor and major operations.
“We will be performing surgeries under anesthesia, meaning patients will not feel pain during procedures. These include operations for pregnant women who cannot give birth naturally, hernia removals, and other surgical interventions,” Dr. Foko said.
He added that such procedures cannot be effectively performed in the health center’s existing mini-theater, emphasizing the importance of a fully equipped operating theater.
Pleebo City Mayor Larry Geekor, in remarks, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and the national government for the project. He described the construction of the operating theater as a long-awaited dream of the city and the Pleebo Health Center administration.
“This is a dream come true for us. We are grateful to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Health for making this project a reality,” Mayor Geekor stated.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Partners In Health (PIH) Liberia, Primary Care Manager Julius D. N. Kpoeh commended the Pleebo Health Center administration for their resilience and commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
He noted that the existence and use of a mini-theater at the facility demonstrated the determination of the health center’s leadership to provide better medical services despite limited resources.
“To see us here today continuing this initiative shows the love and commitment that Partners In Health has for the work being done here, and it is something worth celebrating,” Kpoeh said.
He further assured that PIH Liberia remains committed to accompanying the Pleebo Health Center throughout the construction process and beyond.
The completion of the medical operating theater is expected to significantly enhance healthcare services in Pleebo City and surrounding communities.
